I much prefer the gate NOT lined up with the front door. It is far more interesting. Plus, it doesn't really provide symmetry when lined up with the front door because the front door is not in the middle of the whole front view of the house, which includes the garage.

A double gate seems like a PITA to use. I don't know if a 4 ft gate would be cumbersome.

I don't think any of this is going to keep people from stealing your Amazon packages though.

Yes, plant what you are calling the hellscape. Do others have it theirs planted and does anyone care that they don't own it? The layering it provides is fantastic and makes your landscape feel less flat. Install inexpensive planting should the need to be removed.

I would like to keep the hedge across the front with no access from sidewalk and have the pergola gate give access from the driveway. That is not curb appeal friendly but it helps with privacy. Thoughts?

What is the appearance of the house without all the photoshop adjustments you have added?

Too hard to comment on pergola location based on flat photos. Definitely plant in the strip between the sidewalk and curb- in Savannah that’s called the tree lawn and it’s where we plant our shade trees.

Did I understand correctly that the OP does not own the land?

If that is the case, I wouldn't do anything beyond whatever you want for secure delivery and maybe a few inexpensive plants. I'm not giving my landlord all that work....

I think they don’t own the strip between the sidewalk and the curb- that is typically city property but the adjacent homeowner is required to maintain it. In savannah at least the city will plant trees for free but shrubbery or other plantings are your responsibility.

Except for the garage the house does seem to have a symmetry to it so lining the gate up with the front door would look best IMO. A double gate vs single might be easier to open and less likely to sag over time.

Unless you can find appropriately sized, low maintenance trees for the hell strip a durable drought tolerant ground cover might be best. Too big trees that require a lot of pruning or ones with roots pushing up sidewalks are common where we live.

So the first post was asking us which side we are on between spouces. One prefers the privacy aspect, the other prefers the assumed curb appeal of the arbor in front. That's the question. Can we see the home with the hedge and no gate as it currently sits (I assume) and then a pic of this side entrance from the driveway. How is the driveway's lack of privacy to the street addressed? Does the hedge line the side yard too?

I vote for the gate centered on the entry. I'm on the fence (pun intended) about the pergola. Somehow it seems to detract from the house itself (at least in the rendering). A big yes to keeping the hedges. I like the specimen trees but think perhaps they should be limited in height.

I need to see the house as it is now not photoshopped . I am a person who thinks privacy is more in your head than in acuality. A bust street in what way? A ton of passersby or traffic? I like a hedge but not really for privacy but it is a nice way to frmae your property, The pergola who knows? Use a comment for pics of the real thing.

Put the graceful white gate and pergola in front of the front door. The first photo shows them framing what appears to be the bathroom window. Also, dog owners are less likely to let dogs mess with a front gate than with a side gate out of direct view of the homeowners.

The strip along the street can be landscaped if you wish. Does it rain in summer or would you have to install sprinklers? I've seen some lovely strips that were all short floribunda roses.

On the front I would put 2 nice posts with a gate. No pergola. Not sure what the side of driveway looks like but that is secondary to be a nice clean path to entryway.

If you dont own this home I would not invest any money in any of these changes.

WestCoastHopeful, The OP said they don't own the hell strip, which someone already explained.

We installed a solid 4' wood fence at the sidewalk and it made a big difference in sound reduction from traffic. We planted the street strip or parking strip with bushes to soften the look. I've never heard the phrase hell strip if that is what you mean.

You want a wide gate. If it's not centered on the door, you want an attractive, winding path to the door. What are your privacy concerns? Do you want a semi-private front yard to sit out on? Or do you want to screen your windows?

I don’t believe OP confirmed anything.

Still no pic of the actual house so who knows

WestCoast Hopeful Please read the last sentence in the OP. Also, your question was already asked once and answered. (Why would the OP answer when someone already answered for them?)

I so wish people would read the entire thread.

The OP has not come back and answered the question of ownership. Another poster said they thought they meant the front area of the lot. The OP has not clarified what they mean.

Leigh is so lucky you are here to interpret their post for them woodrose.

Where ever you decide to put your gate, I think it should look similar to your fence that’s to the right of your home. The one you show in your picture looks wimpy for the size of the house! Go big or go home, make a statement! It was also suggested to place 2 large pots, that would look great too. The what we call, “parkway” would look nice with small plantings.